Garment hanging means



June 19, 1962 R. A'. STRONG 3,039,662

GARMENT HANGING MEANS Filed Jan. 22, 1959 INVENTOR ,4\ 39% ROBERT A. STRONG F I G. 5 ATTORNEY States nit This invention relates to hanging garments. In a more specific aspect, this invention relates to garment hangers. In still a more specific aspect, this invention relates to garment hangers adjustable as to size. In yet a more specific aspect, this invention relates to attachment means for common wire coat hangers. Still more specifically, this invention relates to attachments for garment hangers which can be used with a common wire coat hanger to make same larger and adjustable as to size, and which can also be used with special basic hanger means to result in a garment hanger adjustable as to size.

Garment hanger means has long been known in the art. These garment hangers, commonly called coat hangers, have been made in many different ways, and out of many different materials. Wooden coat hangers are widely in use, and the common wire coat hanger is more or less a standard item in carrying on the cleaning business, such being given away along with a cleaned garment, thereby making such available almost universally. The common wire coat hanger has many disadvantages, chief among these being that a garment will lose its shape and be deformed if hung thereon for a prolonged period of time. A common wire coat hanger is not satisfactory in use because it is completely unadjustable, and the standard size of such does not take into account the greatly varying sizes of coats, dresses, etc., normally hung thereon. The new attachment means of my invention for common wire coat hangers overcomes the disadvantages of garment misshaping and fixed size of the common wire coat hanger.

With the new attachment means of my invention, the common wire coat hanger is made adjustable as to length, so as to accommodate coats and dresses of all sizes. My new attachment means is preferably designed substantially wider than the diameter of the wire of the common coat hanger and with a curved upper surface to fit the shoulder portion of the usual garment hung on a hanger, so that the garment in hanging will maintain its proper shape and will drape downwardly in a proper manner. Garments can be hung on a common wire coat hanger having my new attachment means on the ends thereof for as long as from season to season in successive years without misshaping the garment at all. Also, the new attachment means of my invention is preferably designed for use with a special design of basic garment hanger of my invention, both the attachment and the basic hanger member preferably and conveniently being made of plastic material. The advantage of versatility is had between the common wire coat hangers and the new cooperating basic hanger member of my invention, the end attachment means of my invention being interchangeable therebetween. This is a particularly desirable feature for families having children, since childrens clothes are of small sizes and can normally be hung satisfactorily on the new basic hanger of my invention, as well as the common wire coat hanger.

The new attachment for a garment hanger of my invention is a member with a top portion which is preferably substantially greater in width than the thickness or diameter of the wire of a common wire coat hanger, and preferably this top portion of the structural attachment member is outwardly tapered in width and transversely curved outwardly and downwardly. Spaced mounting portions project downwardly from the top portion of the attachment member, and these are preferably centrally located to project downwardly from the underneath side atent thereof. At least one of the projecting mounting portions has on the inside thereof a groove of the shape of the outer end portion of a common wire coat hanger including a portion of the curved portion thereof, and preferably the projecting mounting portions have in mirror image relation on the inside thereof a plurality of spaced grooves of this shape, so as not only to make the wire coat hanger longer when mounted but to make the resulting garment hanger adjustable as to length. The new attachment for a garment hanger of my invention is constructed to be and mountable on the common wire coat hanger on one end portion thereof with a substantial portion of the wire of the curved end portion of the coat hanger between themounting portions and in a groove therein, preferably in corresponding grooves in the inner face of both of the projecting mounting portions. It is preferred that the new attachment for a garment hanger of my invention have serrations on at least one of the inner faces of the project-- ing mounting portions, such in use engaging serrations on one of the faces of the shoulder portion of the new basic hanger of my invention, and preferably the attachment member has serrations on both inner faces of the mounting portions to negate serrations on both faces of the shoulder portion of my new basic hanger when the attachment is adjustably mounted thereon, the interlocking of the serrations positioning and firmly holding the attachment on the shoulder portion of the basic hanger.

It is an object of this invention to provide new garment hanging means.

It is another object of this invention to provide new attachment means for garment hangers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide new attachment means for basic garment hanger structures, such as a common wire coat hanger.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide new attachment means for a common wire coat hanger to make such longer and adjustable as to length, and to make such a better shaped garment hanger.

It is another object of this invention to provide new attachment means which can be interchangeably used with common wire coat hangers and a specially designed basic hanger structure of my invention, to provide hanger structures longer and adjustable as to length and with relatively wide garment shoulder contacting portions.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide new garment hangers which are easy and economic to make and use, interchangeable and versatile in use, and which will prolong the life of garments and maintain their desired shape.

Other objects and advantages of the new attachment means for garment hangers of my invention and the new adjustable garment hangers of my invention resulting from such new attachment means will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. These drawings depict preferred specific embodiments of the new attachment means for garment hangers of my invention and the adjustable garment hangers of my invention resulting therefrom, and it is to be understood that these drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation View of a preferred specificv embodiment of the new attachment of my invention for a common wire coat hanger, showing such mounted in position on a common wire coat hanger on one end portion thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the attachment of FIG. 1 in the same mounted position, and such view cutting away a portion of the common wire coat hanger.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section view through the attachment means shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation View of the new basic garment hanger structure of my invention useable with the new attachment means of my invention shown in the drawings.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross section view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross section view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

In the following is a discussion and description of the new attachment for a garment hanger of my invention and the new adjustable garment hangers of my invention resulting therefrom. The discussion and description is made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same parts and/or structure. Further, the discussion and description is of preferred specific embodiments of the new attachment means for garment hangers of my invention and the new adjustable garment hangers of my invention, and such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 4, a preferred specific embodiment of the new attachment for -a garment hanger of my invention is shown, and also a preferred specific embodiment of the new adjustable garment'hanger means of my invention wherein a common Wire coat hanger 9 is used, such having a hook 11 to hang the garment hanger on a usual closet pole, hook, or the like.

The new attachment member 13 of my invention is mounted on coat hanger 9 in the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, one of the attachments 13 being mounted on each end portion of hanger 9. Preferably, the attachment member is an elongated, integral, onepiece, formed member made out of plastic material by the usual and common methods and with the usual and common plastic materials. I have found it preferable to produce attachment member 13 by injection molding procedures and the plastic material can conveniently be either thermoplastic or thermosetting. However, while plastic materials are preferred for the attachment means 13, it should be understood that other materials can be used, if desired, including metals and metal alloys. The attachment member 13 has an upper or top portion 15, which is preferably smooth on the upper surface thereof and outwardly tapered in width, as shown in FIG. 3, and transversely curved outwardly and downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This is a preferred shape for the top portion 15, and has been found to give excellent results to properly shape and support a garment in contact with the shoulder portions thereof when hung on hanger 9 having the attachments 13 mounted thereon. Integral and spaced mounting portions 17 and 19 project downwardly from the center of the underneath side of top portion 15 of attachment member 13. At the point of juncture of the top portion 15 and mounting portions 17 and 19 is formed a rounded open slot 21 which in operation receives the wire of hanger 9, in mounting attachment member 13 on hanger 9. It is preferred that mounting portions 17 and 19 be normally spaced apart a distance slightly less than the thickness or width of the wire of hanger 9, so that they are sprung apart in mounting attachment member 13 on hanger 9 with the wire thereof in slot 21. The mounting portions 17 and 19 preferably have in mirror image relation on the inside thereof spaced grooves 23 which communicate with slot 21, and which are of the configuration and shape of the outer end portion 25 of common wire coat hanger 9, such curved shape of grooves 23 including a portion of the curved portion 25 of hanger 9. Any number of these grooves 23 can be used, the four shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings having been found suitable to make a resulting hanger of my invention adjustable to four diiferent lengths, which has been found to fit all sizes of mens and womens clothing such as coats and dresses. When the attachment member 13 is mounted on hanger 9, the curved end portion 25 of the hanger fits in one of the grooves 23 with the shoulder portion of hanger 9 in slot 21 of attachment member 13. Mounting portion 17 on the inside is a mirror image of the inside of member or portion 19 shown in FIG. 4. Together they form opposed grooves 23 for the curved end portion 25 of hanger 9. Also, in the inner end portions of mounting portions 17 and 19 inside thereof and in mirror image relation are serrations 27 which are used to mount and firmly position attachment member 13 when it is used on the new basic hanger structure 29 of my invention, such attachment member 15 being interchangeably used on hanger 9 or 29.

Hanger 29 is preferably an integral, one-piece, formed plastic member in the common general shape of a coat hanger, such being formed by the usual plastic forming procedures, such as injection molding, and out of the common and usual plastic materials, either thermoplastic or thermosetting resins. However, basic hanger member 29 can be made out of other suitable materials, for example, metal or metal alloys. A hook 31 for hanging the garment hanger is suitably centrally mounted through an aperture in basic hanger structure 29, such being used to hang the garment hanger on a usual closet pole, hook or the like. The shoulder portions 33 of hanger member 29 preferably have the shape shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, with a bead 35 formed along the top edgethereof. In use this bead portion 35 fits in slot 21 of attachment member 13, the attachment member 13 being slid upwardly along the shoulder 33 to desired position. Of course, an attachment member 13 is used on each end portion of hanger member 29. Both faces of shoulder portions 33 have serrations 37 formed thereon (FIGS. 5 and 7). These serrations 37 engage serrations 27 on the insides of mounting portions 17 and 19 of attachment member 13 to maintain the attachment member 13 firmly in desired position on the ends of hanger member 29. It has been found that only slight and easily exerted pressure need be used with this locking system to position and adjust the position of attachment members 13 on the ends of hanger 29. Thus, attachment members 13 can be used interchangeably either on hanger 9 or 2.9. The bottom member or portion 39 of hanger 29 preferably has thev shape thus shown in FIG. 6, with an upper rounded portion 41. This makes hanger 29 particularly desirable to hang slacks or skirts without causing a crease to form in the material thereof.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various. modifications of my invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this disclosure and discussion, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for a garment hanger comprising, an elongated, integral, one-piece, formed plastic member having a top portion with a smooth upper surface and inwardly tapered in width and transversely curved outwardly and downwardly, and spaced mounting portions projecting downwardly from the center of the underneath side of said top portion substantially the length thereof, forming at the point of juncture with said top portion an open rounded slot to receive the shoulder portion of a common generally triangular wire coat hanger and having in mirror image relation on the inside thereof a plurality of spaced grooves communicating with said slot and of the shape of the outer end portions of a common generally triangular wire coat hanger including substantially all of the curved portion thereof, said attachment constructed to be adjustably positionable and mountable on a common generally triangular wire coat hanger on one end portion thereof with a substantial portion of the wire of the curved end portion of said wire coat hanger between said mounting portions and in opposite ones of said grooves therein.

'2. An attachment for a garment hanger comprising, an elongated member having a top portion inwardly tapered in width and transversely curved outwardly and downwardly, and spaced mounting portions projecting downwardly from said top portion along a major portion of the length thereof, said mounting portions having in mirror image relation on the inside thereof a plurality of spaced grooves of the shape of the outer end portion of a common generally triangular wire coat hanger including substantially all of the curved portion thereof, said attachment constructed to be adjustably positionable and mountable on a common generally triangular wire coat hanger on one end portion thereof with a substantial portion of the wire of the curved end portion of said Wire coat hanger between said mounting portions and in opposite ones of said grooves therein.

3. An attachment for a garment hanger comprising, a member having a top portion of relatively great width compared to the diameter of the Wire of a common generally triangular wire coat hanger, and spaced mounting portions projecting downwardly from said top portion along a major portion of the length thereof, at least one of said mounting portions having a plurality of spaced grooves on the inside thereof of the shape of the outer end portion of a common generally triangular wire coat hanger including substantially all of the curved portion thereof, said attachment constructed to be adjustably positionable and mountable on a common generally triangular wire coat hanger on one end portion thereof with a portion of the wire of the curved end portion of said wire coat hanger between said mounting portions and in one of said grooves therein.

4. Garment hanger means comprising, in combination, an integral, one-piece, formed plastic member in the general shape of a common generally triangular coat hanger and having a round bead on the upper edge of the shoulder portions thereof and a relatively thin narrow portion thereunder having serrations on both sides in both shoulder portions, hook means mounted in the upper center portion of said hanger, and a pair of elongated, integral, onepiece, formed plastic members each having a top portion with a smooth upper surface and inwardly tapered in width and transversely curved outwardly and downwardly, and spaced mounting portions projecting downwardly from the center of the underneath side of said top portion along a major portion of the length thereof, forming at the point of juncture with said top portion an open rounded slot to receive said bead portion of said shoulder of said first-named plastic member and having serrations in mirror image relation on the inside of said mounting portions, said last-named formed plastic member constructed to be adjustably positionable and mountable on said first-named formed plastic member with one of said last-named formed plastic members being mountable on each end portion thereof with said end portions between said mounting portions, with said bead in said slot and with said serrations in engagement to hold said formed plastic members in desired relative position.

5. Garment hanger means comprising, in combination,

a common generally triangular wire coat hanger, and a pair of elongated attachment members having a top portion inwardly tapered in width and transversely curevd outwardly and downwardly, and spaced mounting portions on each of said attachment members projecting downwardly from said top portion along a major portion of the length thereof, at least one of said mounting portions on each of said attachment members having on the inside thereof a plurality of spaced grooves of the shape of the outer end portion of said common wire coat hanger including substantially all of the curved portion thereof, said attachments adjustably and positionably mounted on said common wire coat hanger on the end portions thereof with a substantial portion of the wire of said curved end portions of said wire coat hanger between said mounting portions and in opposite ones of said grooves.

6. Garment hanger means comprising, in combination, a common generally triangular wire coat hanger, and a pair of attachment members having a top portion sub stantially wider than the thickness of the wire of said wire coat hanger, and spaced mounting portions on each of said attachment members projecting from said top portion along the major portion of the length thereof, at least one of said mounting portions on each of said attachment members having on the inside thereof a plurality of grooves of the shape of the outer end portion of said common Wire coat hanger including substantially all of the curved portion thereof, said attachment members being adjustably and positionably mounted on said common Wire coat hanger on the end portions thereof with a portion of the Wire of said curved end portions of said coat hanger between said mounting portions and in opposite ones of said grooves.

7. Gar-ment hanging means comprising, in combination, structure in the form of a coat hanger having shoulder portions with relatively thin narrow depending portions therebelow, a plurality of serrations on said depending portions, and a pair of attachment members having a top portion substantially wider than said shoulder portions of said first-named structure, each of said attachments having spaced mounting portions projecting downwardly from said top portion along a major portion of the length thereof, said mounting portions having serrations positioned in mirror image relation along the inside thereof, said attachments being adjustably and positionably mounted on said first-named structure on the end portions thereof with said serrations in engagement to hold said attachments thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,360,119 Gallagher Oct. 10, 1944 2,525,142 Levinson Oct. 10, 1950 2,596,576 MacSpadden May 13, 1952 2,620,102 Bermer Dec. 2, 1952 2,709,026 MacKenzie May 24, 1955 2,820,583 Mills Jan. 21, 1958 2,914,227 Fay Nov. 24, 1959 

